Confronting the rapidly growing Iranian nuclear threat

Audrey Jacobs

The United States and our close allies, including Israel, Britain, Canada and other Western countries, are confronting today the greatest threat we’ve faced in decades. As confirmed by the recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Islamic Republic of Iran is continuing its headlong march toward acquiring a weaponized nuclear capability. The United States and our allies must continue to explore the full range of options available and to coordinate a strong, multilateral approach to make sure that Iran does not succeed in developing nuclear weapons.

Last month’s report by the International Atomic Energy Agency expressed “serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear program.” Specifically, the IAEA found, “Iran has developed the capability to enrich uranium to a level of up to 20 percent U-235,” more consistent with acquiring a weapon than, as Tehran speciously contends, with producing nuclear energy peacefully. The agency further found that “the product of this program would be converted into metal for use in the new warhead which was the subject of the missile re-entry vehicle studies.”

While much of the technology employed in developing a nuclear capability qualifies as “dual-use” – i.e., possessing both civilian and military applications – even the generally conservative and conciliatory IAEA has now determined that the overwhelming majority of Iran’s work is “highly relevant to a nuclear weapon program” – the measured, diplo-speak equivalent of a red alert.

In short, the report confirms that a nuclear-armed Iran is the most severe national security threat currently facing the United States, Israel and many Western countries. Reuters recently reported that a senior U.S. military official acknowledged “the biggest threat to the United States and to our interests and to our friends ... has come into focus, and it’s Iran.” The IAEA report dovetails with recent allegations that Iranian intelligence planned a high-profile assassination campaign on American soil.

Iran’s leaders openly validate these fears in affirming their genocidal aims. Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has repeatedly called for “death to America,” while Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the country’s president, has vowed to “wipe Israel off the map.” In addition, Iran takes continual action in support of these goals, arming and supporting terrorist organizations like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, and others to commit ongoing attacks against citizens of Israel, the United States and other Western countries.

So how should the West respond to the latest news?

We must impose ever-intensifying economic sanctions on the Iranian regime. The recent measures announced by President Barack Obama and the leaders of Britain and Canada send a strong and clear message to Iran that their nuclear weapons program will not be permitted. Steps like these “represent a significant ratcheting up of pressure on Iran, its sources of income and its illegal activities,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated.

Important as these steps are, it is likely that they will not be sufficient. They should be followed as needed by more powerful sanctions. Specifically, the president has already identified “the entire Iranian banking sector – including the Central Bank of Iran – as a threat to governments or financial institutions that do business with Iranian banks.” Britain has already included the Central Bank of Iran amongst its sanctions targets. At the right time, the United States should follow suit, and begin the process of formally sanctioning the Central Bank of Iran in order to cripple Iran’s ability to finance its nuclear activities.

Some Iran experts have also proposed directly targeting Tehran’s oil exports, which account for anywhere from 50 to 75 percent of the country’s budget, specifically by sanctioning the National Iranian Oil Company.

Iran’s determination to obtain and exploit nuclear weapons capabilities poses a major strategic threat to the United States, Israel and our other allies in 2012 and beyond. It is crucial that our government and the governments of our allies hear from as many of their citizens as possible that we support their immediate intensification of all possible measures to counter this potentially devastating threat and to ensure continued security and freedom for all.